Rangers fans in meltdown as yet another manager rejects Thelwell and Stewart | OneFootball

Kevin Muscat pulled out of Rangers talks after Kevin Thelwell and Patrick Stewart became directly involved in negotiations. The highly respected Australian had been all set to take over at Ibrox, yet when the club’s top executives entered discussions, everything fell apart. Thelwell’s reputation already divides the Rangers support, and this latest failure has left many furious at the direction of the club.

The deal was close until Thelwell stepped in

Reports across Rangers outlets and fan forums claim Muscat had been impressed with Rangers and was ready to join. The structure was agreed, the compensation terms were progressing, and the timing looked right. But then Thelwell and Stewart entered the talks, and the atmosphere changed instantly. Sources suggest Muscat wanted control over recruitment, something Thelwell refused to grant. Instead, he insisted that Rangers’ director-led system remain untouched, leaving the new manager little say over transfers.

That move reportedly killed the deal. Muscat values autonomy, and he built his success in Japan and China on making his own decisions. Once Thelwell imposed the existing structure, Muscat walked. The frustration among fans is now boiling over. They believe Rangers have once again scared off a strong candidate through poor leadership and power struggles.

The whole scenario echoes what The Scotsman highlighted: the negotiations reached a point of no return once internal politics interfered. Muscat’s insistence on independence clashed with Thelwell’s rigid sporting model, and there was never going to be a compromise.

Fans see another leadership disaster

Many supporters see this collapse as a reflection of deeper issues inside Ibrox. Patrick Stewart and Kevin Thelwell have already been under fire for the disastrous summer recruitment and the sheer waste of transfer money. Now they stand accused of blocking the one manager who had genuine fan approval. As Sky Sports confirmed, talks collapsed due to “practicalities,” but insiders claim that phrase masks something more telling: a total lack of unity at board level.

Supporters on social media are united in anger. They call this another example of the board undermining football decisions. GiveMeSport’s coverage noted how fan frustration has now turned into distrust. The timing could not be worse, as the team’s form continues to sink and the fans’ patience fades by the day.

What next for Rangers after Muscat’s rejection

Rangers are once again embarrassed. The collapse of this deal exposes a club at war with itself. The sporting director wants control, the executives protect their image, and the supporters pay the price. Kevin Muscat would have brought authority and a winning mentality. Instead, he saw chaos and walked away. Danny Rohl now seems to be the ‘answer’.

The whole saga leaves Rangers looking rudderless. Kevin Thelwell and Patrick Stewart may claim this was mutual, but everyone knows what happened. Muscat refused to be a puppet, and now the club’s leadership stands exposed once again as out of touch, untrusted, and completely lost.